CROWES Bulletin March 2006
8/3/06
09:30
Page 42
Articles
safety
systems,
and
1st April 1967 there was also a fire at
led to the overfilling of road tankers with
These
the West London Terminal operated by
product spilling over the loading bays.
for
Esso Petroleum. The official report
The resulting fire and explosion caused
carrying out work on pipelines and
issued on 6 September 1967 by the
loss of life, injury and extensive damage
dealing
or
Chief Inspector of Explosives, Dr H K
emergencies that may arise; this also
Black, reported on the consequences of
includes giving due consideration to
the fire where three employees lost their
prevention of damage in the event of an
lives and eleven were injured.
maintenance regulations
of
access pipelines.
include
with
any
provision incidents
accident
The company had installed new automated delivery systems for filling
thought likely to have been a road tanker engine starting up in preparation for driving out of the terminal. The terminal was reopened with
road tankers; this facility had been
additional safety features which were
handed over the day before following
adopted throughout the industry. The
this was the first fire at a UK oil terminal
commissioning
storage tanks on this occasion were not
since the war this was not the case. On
Problems encountered during the day
Other Incidents Although many reports stated that
42
to the plant. The cause of ignition was
by
the
installers.
involved in the fire.
